Portable audio devices have evolved greatly over time, starting from the first portable transistor radio in 1954 to today's small flash-based players that can hold thousands of songs. Early devices included cassette players introduced in the 1960s. The Sony Walkman in the 1970s was revolutionary as the first truly portable music player. The introduction of the Sony Discman in 1984 brought digital music quality to portable devices. Modern players now come in various formats like flash-based or hard drive models, can play different file types, and have additional functions beyond just music playback.